Ukrainian Azovstal defender describes Russian captivity: 'Talked about food every day'
Kozatskyi shared his memories (photo: instagram.com/kztsky)
Dmytro Kozatskyi is an Azovstal defender with the call sign "Orest", who survived Russian captivity and impressed the whole world with his photos from Mariupol. The Russian occupiers held him captive for 4 months. Now he recalls how he felt immediately after his release from Russian captivity. Orest talks about it in an interview with Army TV - Military Television of Ukraine.
"And the bread was delicious"
According to "Orest", people in captivity dream of food. And after they realize they are back home, ordinary things bring happiness.
"Every day we talked about food there, like something delicious. And it seems like you're going to go out and eat everything. But in this moment of joy, you even forget about food. Although I remember we were met and given sandwiches. I still remember: with some kind of redfish and sausage. And I was like: "Wow, this is delicious," the photographer says.
How "Orest" looked like after Russian captivity (photo: instagram.com/libkos)
He also recalls that after his release from Russian captivity, he was happy even to eat bread. Kozatskyi ate even when he should have been full.
"And the bread was delicious, we were given some food packages and there was just bread. And I was already kind of full, because during the exchange (we were on the road for almost two days) we didn't eat or drink anything. And it was clear that I was hungry," "Orest" recalls.
Kozatskyi described his emotions after his release from Russian captivity (photo: instagram.com/libkos)
"I was collecting crumbs"
The photographer says that when he was in the Donetsk detention center, where the Russian occupiers brought prisoners of war, he tore off a piece of cloth from the inside of his pants and collected bread crumbs in it. Then he ate them.
"I remember this moment, again, of joy, when you eat, and we were given some kind of blanket, and I covered myself with it. And I notice that I'm starting to pick up crumbs to eat them. And then I feel: great, I don't have to pick up these crumbs now, I can eat bread whenever I want. And it was very cool," says "Orest".
Who is "Orest" from Azovstal?
In May 2022, Kozatskyi, along with other Azovstal defenders, was taken prisoner. In August, it became known that "Orest" had managed to call his parents and inform them that he was alive.
Before his capture, he was a photographer who was called the "eyes of Azovstal". His photographs spread all over the world, and his photo "Light Will Prevail" was recognized as one of the best in 2022 by The Guardian. In addition, his work was included in the list of 100 Best Photos of 2022 by Time magazine.
The legendary shot of "Orest" (photo: twitter.com/Kozatsky_D)
